Al-Qalam 
The Prophet (pbuh) had fought against abuse of women and children.He understood that ending domestic violence also meant helping the perpetrators see their cruel injustices, writes Imam Dr. A. Rashied Omar.
During the latter part of his prophetic mission while he was living in the oasis city of Madina, a large number of women, some hadith reports say as many as 70 women, approached the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and his wives confidentially to complain about their husbands violently abusing them and their children. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was so disturbed by the indignities these female companions were suffering at the hands of their husbands that he straightaway decided to address the scourge of violence and abuse against women and children among his followers publically.
As was his practice whenever there was something he felt all Muslims needed to know about or discuss, he asked Bilal ibn Rabah (ra), to make a special adhan, for people to gather in the masjid.
When the people came to the masjid, the Prophet (pbuh) delivered a special khutbah rebuking men who abused their families and calling for an immediate end to the scourge of violence and abuse against women and children.
He strongly censured and criticized those among his companions who were guilty of domestic violence and abuse, saying this behavior was unacceptable from those who hold the honorific title of Muslim and seek to live by Islam’s ideals and sublime values.
He concluded by reminding his followers about the inherent dignity of women and that marriage is a partnership based on love (mawadda) and mercy (rahma).
This incident and the sermon were reported in two of the most authentic collections of ahadith (prophetic traditions), namely, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah. Throughout his prophetic mission the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) tried his utmost to live up to his noble teachings on kind and loving treatment towards women and children. This is confirmed by no less than his beloved wife, Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), who is reported to have testified that the Prophet (pbuh) proclaimed: “The best among you is the one who treats his family the best, and I am the one who treats my family the best.” (Ibn Majah).
Abusive
The lesson from the above incident from the life of our Prophet (pbuh) is crystal clear. Furthermore, violence and abuse were not treated by the Prophet (pbuh) as a “women’s issue” irrelevant to Muslim men, or as a domestic matter to be sorted out internally by the family.
The Prophet (pbuh) understood that this abusive behavior towards women could be changed, but it first had to be brought out into the open and addressed head on. He also understood that ending domestic violence and sexual abuse meant helping perpetrators clearly see the utter injustice of abusing their wives, daughters and sisters.
It is instructive, that in the reporting of the above incident, the Prophet (pbuh) did not start by questioning the integrity of the complainants or the veracity of their complaints. Instead, he implicitly recognized the courage of the women who came to him to raise these deeply personal violations. Speaking about it publicly, and addressing men directly, was the prophetic manhaj or methodology that the Prophet (pbuh) used to condemn violence and abuse against women and children and hopefully rid his community of this scourge.
We can learn from this prophetic example, by continuing to speak out against gender-based violence. Our public protests against gender-based violence are not the cure but if implemented, they can lead to a significant shift in the way our community as a whole deal with reports of sexual abuse today. Public protests can help raise awareness of the pandemic of gender-based violence that continues to engulf our community, destroying countless women, children and men, passing abuse on to the next generation of Muslims and ultimately, distancing more Muslims from Islam.
In addition to the public protests, we today are also fortunate to live in a country where gender-based violence is a criminal act. We thus have the option of instituting legal proceedings to hold alleged perpetrators accountable for their heinous acts.
The more perpetrators are seen to be brought to justice the more confidence women and children will have to call out domestic and sexual violence and abuse, no matter the power or social standing of alleged perpetrators. We must therefore support survivors who have experienced domestic and sexual violations, to break their silence and take legal recourse.
In conclusion, please join me in a special supplication entreating Allah, the Lord of Compassionate Justice, to assist us in stemming the epidemic of gender-based violence against our daughters, sisters and mothers.
